Did You Know
Fun Facts About Horses
1. The fastest racehorses can run at about 40 miles per hour. But, despite careful breeding and racetrack improvements, horses today don't run much faster than they did 50 years ago.
2. Even in freezing cold weather a healthy horse's body temperature remains normal. Body temperature is not affected by 'over-heating' foods, such as oats. They simply provide more energy and make the horse more active.
3. A sure sign that a horse is in good condition is the covering of flesh over his ribs. You should be able to feel his ribs easily under the skin but they should not stick out.
4. A pony who dislikes being groomed may object to stiff, bristly dandy brushes. Persuade him to enjoy grooming by using a towel or rubber curry on sensitive areas.
5. Frustrated with his confinement, a horse is likely to pass the time with a habit such as wood chewing and this can quickly develop into a confirmed vice. An interesting view with plenty of activity going on helps to prevent horses from becoming bored and fidgety.
Letters to the mascot
Dear Shaboom and Clyde,
My horse is a bit under-weight. I feed him lots but he just doesn't seem to get any fatter. How can I get him to gain weight? Joan, Seattle, WA.
Hi Joan,
There are several things to consider when trying to put weight on a horse.
1. If you are trying to alter your horses weight you should get expert advise about his diet. Check with an equine nutritionist or vet to find out the proper levels of nutrition for your horse. Any changes in feeding should be made gradually to avoid colic.
2. Have your horse checked by your vet. He may need to be de-wormed or have his teeth floated so he can chew and utilize his food better.
3. His breed may also contribute to his body condition as well. For example a Thoroughbred tends to be a harder keeper than a Shetland pony and so needs a different diet plan to keep weight on.
Choosing the Right Stallion for your Mare
You have decided to breed your mare, so now you have to choose the stallion that will help your mare produce the best possible foal. There are several things to consider. Here are a few tips to help you make an educated decision when choosing a stallion.
1. In most cases it is best to breed your mare to a registered stallion of the same breed. This will give you a foal able to be registered (providing the mare is also registered). In some cases, such as Warmblood production, cross breeding may be implemented.
2. Choose a stallion who complements your mare. This means his conformation should be strong where hers is weak. For example, if your mare has sickle hocks the stallion should have good correct legs.
3. Always breed your mare to a better stallion. The object of breeding is to produce something better, so breed to a stallion of superior quality. This should produce a foal of better quality than your mare.
4. The stallion should be highly trainable and possess a good disposition. These traits are inheritable and could influence the disposition and trainability of your foal.
5. Never breed to a stallion just because his fee is cheap or free. Remember it costs just as much to feed an undesirable foal as it does to feed one of superior quality.
6. When in doubt ask for a second opinion. A vet, trainer, or knowledgeable breeder may be able to help you make an informed opinion.
These tips should help you get started in your search for a stallion to breed your mare.
College with Horse Program
By Erica Webster
Are you thinking about going to a college that will have a horse program? Or lets say you want to go to a college that doesn’t offer a horse program, but you still want to do something with horses. You might want to think about the Collegiate Horse Team. There are a lot of colleges that offer this program.
What is the Collegiate Horse Team? It’s where a college has a team of riders that compete in state and out of state against other collegiate teams. You use horses that are provided for you at the various competitions.
The way this works is that a college team offers to host a competition in their area. A local horse facility is contacted to host the competition providing an arena and some stabling. The college team organizer contacts local horse owners to bring suitable horses for the different class competitions. Horses names are drawn out of a hat by the riders before the competition starts. They find the posted description given by the owner of the horse’s temperament and abilities. Then they find the horse and talk to the owner about the horse and how to ride it well.
Classes are divided into two main groups, English and Western. English is subdivided into English jumping, and English flat, which consists of walk, trot, and canter. Western consists of Western reining, and Western flat, which consist of walk, trot, and canter also. The levels are from beginner to open class, which is the highest.
At the end of the competition the top two riders from the western classes and the top two riders from the English go into a show down to determine the overall rider in the division.
The showdown consists of a pattern ridden on the flat on the best horses available. The showdown takes about five minutes per rider. Also there is a winning team at the end of the competition. The competition itself lasts two days over a weekend and of course travel is part of it. The collegiate season starts in November and ends in early spring.
For more information visit this web site www.ihsa.com and click on ‘Collegiate Teams’ to find out what is available in your area and other states.
